‘BOSS” RULE 


OR THE REPUBLIC. 

Which Shall Survive? 














































.. ' 













» 















A PLAN 


FOR THE 



ADDRESS 


DELIVERED BEFORE THE 

CALIFORNIA STATE GRANGE, 

MARYSVILLE, CAL., OCT. 13th, 1880. 



SACRAMENTO : 

A. J. Johnston & Co., Printers, 410 J Street. 
1886. 






.^• 2 - 









TO THE READER. 


Those who may hastily skim over these few pages, or those who 
may give the subject but little thought, can hardly be expected to 
give an unbiased opinion as to the practicability of the plan herein 
outlined. Even a careful consideration may not, at the start, gain 
an adherent, for the human mind is so constituted that it tends to 
repel any idea differing from long cherished notions. Such is not 
only the case with those known as “Conservatives,” but it is almost 
the same with many who are pleased to term themselves “liberals.” 

I infer this from personal experience, for, when, at first, the plan 
was submitted to men—many of them above the average in intelli¬ 
gence and political knowledge —the tendency of conservatism was 
made manifest by vehement declarations that the plan was not prac¬ 
ticable. 

It was only after debating and carefully considering every detail 
advocated, that a favorable conclus : on was arrived at. Even then, 
some of the conclusions were qualified with “ ifs” and “buts.” All, 
however, who were consulted were in earnest on two propositions : 
first, that the present method is radically wrong; second, that it 
should be remedied. 

What would he an efficient remedy none could tell. 

While I am not prepared to hold that the plan herein outlined 
is the only efficient one that may be offered, I am yet constrained to 
say that, as long as no other is offered, this plan must stand as the 
the only proposition for relief. 

In Germany, the greater portion of the male population are com¬ 
pelled to perform military service at certain intervals. During 
“ leave of absence,” the soldier is nominally a servant of the State, 
but in reality assumes any calling or occupation which may be 
agreeable to him, but on receipt of official notice he again, as a 
soldier, becomes a servant of the State. 

This system gives Germany a perpetual military force of many 
hundred thousand men. It is doubtful if the monarchial system of 
Germany could exist, were it not for their system of “ land-wehr.” 




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It is proposed that what the “ land-wehr” system is to Germany, j ' 
the “Elective Franchise Trustee” system should become here, differing j 
only in these essentials ; the “land-wehr” soldier serves the State in 
order to perpetuate monarchy—whereas the “Elective Franchise ( 
Trustee” will serve the people by preserving the integrity of the bal- ^ 
lot-box, and thus aid in perpetuating free government. 

The ‘ Elective Franchise Trustee” system will cost our National 
and State governments but a small fraction of the millions of money 
yearly required to support the “land-wehr” system of Germany. 

I am encouraged to persevere in putting forward this plan for the 
consideration of the thoughtful, for during the late convention at 
Marysville of the State Grange of California, I was invited to lay 
this plan before that body, and it met with their approval. In 
addition to this, the plan while at first adversely received was finally 
favorably considered by many eminent men throughout the State, 
who are well informed on political methods. It has been urged that 
in order to bring about such a change of affairs as is outlined in the 
plan, that associations be formed throughout the United States, and 
it is with that object in view that I have had this pamphlet pub¬ 
lished. 

I propose to distribute it broadcast throughout the United States, 
and trust it will arouse a spirit of inquiry, the benefit of which may J 
help strengthen our Republic. 

In order to co-operate with those who may desire to organize ’ 
associations for fmthering the plan herein outlined, and for the pur- ] 
pose of exchanging ideas pertinent to the subject, I shall hold my¬ 
self in readiness to answer all communications addressed to me on 
that subject, as promptly as my time and business will permit. 

DAVID LUBIN, 

Sacramento, California. 







ADDRESS. 


The Constitution of the United States was adopted Sept¬ 
ember 17th, 1787, ninety-nine years ago. At the time of 
its adoption the population was estimated at about four 
million; the present population is estimated at about sixty 

million. 

Could the European monarchs have foreseen that a re¬ 
public would be established which would rival in magnitude 
and power the great empires of the world, it is almost cer¬ 
tain they would have exerted themselves to crush the enter¬ 
prise in its inception. That this could have been done no 
one will deny. That it was not done is nothing strange, for 
during the memorable struggle for independence, many even 
among the colonists believed that resistance was for the 
“redress of wrongs,” and with wrongs redressed they would 
again humbly acknowledge the sovereignty of his majesty, 
George III, King of England. 

Even after the adoption of the Constitution, the rulers 
of Europe looked upon the organization of the American 
Republic with contemptuous indifference. They did not 
deem it of sufficient importance to give the matter serious 
thought, for republics there were, and democracies, too, 
had their existence, but mutable exigencies caused them to 
melt and vanish from among the forms of government, and 
monarchy or despotism appeared to be the natural order of 
social organization. 




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The European rulers, however, are now beginning to realize 
that our republic is an institution differing in potent essentials 
from that of any other mode of government heretofore exist¬ 
ing. They are beginning to realize that if our republic lives 
and prospers, it will seal the doom of emperor, king and 
prince. Already the power is slipping from their grasp. 

Was it because of their natural goodness of heart that 
they established constitutions and legislative assemblies, or 
was it because they were compelled to do so by their sub¬ 
jects '? If compelled by their subjects, were not these sub¬ 
jects influenced in their demands by comparing the existence 
of civil liberty in our republic with their state of slavish 
submission 1 ? Assuredly so. 

We may therefore conclude that we should receive the 
friendly protestations of the “ friendly powers ” with a great 
deal of allowance. 

Let us not deceive ourselves, but clearly understand 
that there is not a monarch or titled despot in Europe who 
would not gladly see the republic perish. Mutual distrust 
and jealousies but stay their desire to crush our cherished 
institutions. 

What the future may bring forth will, in a great meas¬ 
ure, depend upon our own actions. 

Ninety-nine years of life for a nation is not a great age. 
Our republic, when measured by time, is yet in the experi¬ 
mental state. Should our experiment of self-government 
prove a permanent success, then may we hopefully await 
the time when, one by one, the downtrodden subjects of 
European monarchs will throw off the yoke of their masters 
and establish republics patterned after ours. 


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When that time shall have arrived we will have nothin# 
further to fear, for if but two or three of the great nations of 
Europe become republics, the republican governments will 
then hold the “ balance of power,” and the “ balance of 
power ” once obtained, will establish civil liberty on a firm 
foundation and make it irresistible. 

“ Eternal vigilence is the price of liberty;” is as potent 
an axiom of political integrity to-day as it was when uttered 
by that great statesman, Thomas Jefferson. 

Let us therefore examine into our affairs and see if we 
can detect any weak points which may be remedied. 

Permit me to digress from the subject for a few moments, 
so as to bring before your notice an illustration. 

A few years ago the fruit-pest inspector called upon the 
orchardists and urged them to spray their trees. 

“Why shall we spray our trees'?” asked the orchardists. 

“Because you will thereby destroy the insects, and unless 
you destroy them they will destroy your trees.” 

“ But we have no insects,” said many of the orchardists. 

“Look through this microscope,” replied the inspector. 
And when they looked they were amazed and horrified to 
find the trunks, limbs and leaves almost completely covered 
with millions of insects. The prudent truit growers at once 
applied remedies which, with more or less success, destroyed 
tlfe insects and thus saved their trees. The careless paid 
no heed to the warning, and as a result not only lost their 
trees but did much harm to the property of their neighbors: 
for the unchecked multiplication of the destructive insects 
carried them in every direction, until whole sections were 
infected. 


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Let us now apply this illustration to our affairs of gov¬ 
ernment. 

Apparently our national life is vigorous and healthy; but 
let us look somewhat closer, and what do we behold ? 

We scarcely have need for a microscope here, for we can 
observe with the naked eye hundreds and thousands of politi 
cal insects that are as destructive to our body politic as the 
dreaded scale bug or codlin moth is to our trees. Yes, hun¬ 
dreds of thousands of political human insects are sucking 
the very life-blood out of this nation. 

Perhaps you have a desire to see some of these political 
insects. Well, let us conceal ourselves in the rear of a bar¬ 
room; now peep into this “private” room, where, on every 
night but this, gamblers are assembled here to ply their 
unlawful trade; it is close to election time, and the “kettle is 
boiling;” yonder flashily dressed loafer, with the diamond 
shirtstud,is not the “boss;” no, he is only a henchman. He has 
received his orders from the “boss.” Gathered around him 
are more henchmen, and there are several tools known as 
“ placehunters.” The session begins, and the chief hench¬ 
man reads the orders of the “ boss,” the bargains are con¬ 
cluded, and the “ platform ” and “ resolutions ” are written 
out; a list of delegates and candidates is prepared ; the 
deposit money of candidates is received; strikers, repeaters 
and bullies are engaged for use at the polls, and the meet¬ 
ing is adjourned by the chief henchman calling for t^e 
“drinks all around.” 

Soon after a caucus is called, to which the henchmen, 
strikers, repeaters and bullies, and a few citizens, go; the 
delegates “chosen in advance” and the tools known as 
office seekers are also there. After some preliminary 


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hocus*pocus, one of the henchmen is chosen president; 
speeches are in order, and this band of political pirates are 
actually shouting patriotism. No wonder they do not blush 
while making their lying declarations, for their throats are 
brass, and their cheeks are adamant. And now these politi¬ 
cal vermin adopt a platform, and select delegates. Observe 
the paper on which the platform and on which the delegates’ 
names are written —it is creased and dirty ; if you will take 
trouble enough to find out where it came from, you will 
learn that it has been stored away in the hind pants-pocket 
of the chief henchman from the time of the last meeting of 
the “ boys ” at the rear end of the bar-room. 

The election for delegates to the convention next takes 
place. Just take a walk around and you will find at the 
rear end of the bar-rooms, in the little den called polls, sev¬ 
eral henchmen and ballot stuffers. On the curb you will 
find henchmen, loafers, rounders, repeaters, shoulder strikers, 
whisky bummers, and a few citizens. 

Well, a short time after the convention is held, and the 
delegates are the henchmen, rounders, repeaters, shoulder 
strikers, loafers, and the tools called office seekers, and a 
few citizens who are put in to disguise and dilute, so as to 
give tone to the affair, or as the bosses express themselves, 
“the thing should not be a dead-give away.” 

Can you guess who the candidates are going to be? Do 
I hear you say they will select the best men? Well, the 
best men out of the entire.lot will not count for much any¬ 
way, but don’t deceive yourself. No, not even the best men 
from this assembly, but the worst will be selected with the 
exception of one or two names to give tone to the ticket. 
They will nominate the names written on the slip in the 


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little room at the rear end of the bar-room. A henchman 
or wire puller is elected President over this assembly, and a 
fellow solid with his ward is chosen Secretary. A com¬ 
mittee on platform and resolutions is appointed, who, after 
having retired, return and hand to the Chairman the identi¬ 
cal creased and dirty sheet of paper handed by the “boss” to 
the chief henchmen sometime ago, and which the latter has 
carried all this while in the back pocket of his pants. J ust 
think of it! The destinies of the Republic carried in the 
back pants pocket of a henchman. Speeches are now made 
by the political parisites and by a few innocent citizens. 
The platform is adopted amid vociferous cheers, and the 
nomination of candidates begin. Strange coincidence; the 
very men are chosen whose names are on the piece of paper 
that was erased and dirty, and which was kept in the hind 
pants pocket of the henchman, and again one or two respect¬ 
able citizens are put on the tail end of the list to give tone 
to the ticket, or to catch the “ respectable element,” and 
now the ticket is “in the field.” 

Election day comes around, and you will find the same 
old ballot stutters in the dens in the rear of the bars called 
“polls.” Look in the dimly lighted den and you will see a 
henchman, several ballot stutters, and one or two harmless, 
innocent looking, sheeplike citizens. On the curb you will 
find ticket peddlers, repeaters, bullies, henchmen, ringmen, 
shoulder strikers, loafers and citizens. Here you will find 
the political scale bug buying votes. There is another 
selling his. 

Yonder is the bully intimidating the voters; behind him 
comes the repeater, following comes the fellow whose 
right to vote was purchased by a false oath, 


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Outside of the 100 foot limit are to be found the hench¬ 
men who are busily engaged in buying, bargaining, swopping 
and selling the very life of the nation, her votes, and thus 
do these political vermin devour the sap, the vigor, the life 
of this great nation—this great republic. 

Do I speak of the Democratic or the Republican party ? 
Alas ! I speak of both. 

What results may we expect from such a state of affairs ? 
Can we hope that this unholy traffic is carried on for the 
benefit of our republican institutions ? 

The very means employed, and employed by that above 
all objectionable class of men, shows upon its face that bar¬ 
ter, gain, power and gold is sought after, and not the good 
of the republic. 

Will anyone deny this? No, no one can, nor truthfully 
dare, deny it. 

Yes, some will say, all this may be true enough as far as 
municipal politics are concerned in such cities as New York, 
Philadelphia, Chicago or San Francisco, but in the smaller 
towns and in the country no such state of affairs exists. 
Besides, while we may admit that municipal politics is in 
the hands of the rings, bosses and their henchmen, yet we 
affirm that the National Government is another affair; that 
branch of our government is at least free from the forms of 
municipal corruption. 

Well, you are wrong on both propositions. You must 
bear in mind that county delegates and county manipulators 
are almost always to be found working in harmony with the 
city bosses. It is from them that they receive their plat¬ 
form and their resolutions—undoubtedly copies of that dirty 


( 1-2 ) 

creased sheet of paper carried for a time in the hind pants 
pocket of the chief henchman—and it is from the bosses 
that they generally receive their private or secret instruc¬ 
tions. 

Thus you see that the country precincts are made to act 
like the rags on the end of a kite ; it is the tail end to help 
ballast the scheme of the city bosses. 

No, not alone is it municipal politics that the “ bosses 
manipulate,” but it is county, State and National politics as 
well. 

If you are familiar with political methods as they are 
conducted at present, you will know this; if you are not, 
you can readily ascertain that this is a fact; for the caucus, 
the selection of delegates, the primary, the city, county, 
State and National conventions, and lastly the elections, 
have one and the same origin; the little room at the rear 
end of the bar, and the manipulators are the “bosses” and 
their henchmen, and the voters are the puppets. 

Not alone are we conscious of this humiliating state of 
affairs; not alone is it blazoned forth almost constantly by 
the newspapers, but it is notoriously known throughout 
Europe. 

A celebrated German writer, in a recent publication, 
says : “ The practice of the United States, especially in their 
presidential elections, the inevitable corruption following in 
their wake, the necessity of rewarding the accomplices by 
giving them places, and then of winking at the delinquen¬ 
cies of their administration, the venality and corruption 
which is engendered in the ruling circle—all these deep 
lying evils of the much vaunted republic have been brought 

o 

into such glaring prominence within the last few years, that 


f 


( 13 ) 

the eagerness of German orators, newspaper writers and 
poets to go in search for their political and even moral 
ideals to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, has suffered 
considerable abatement.” 

In the palmy days of the Roman Republic it was the cus¬ 
tom to proclaim in time of danger, this warning : “ See that 

the Republic receives no harm.” Have we, then, nothing to 
fear ? Shall we continue to permit the rule of the “ bosses ?” 
Shall these “ bosses” put in office our township, state and 
national officers'? Shall we permit ourselves to be the dupes 
and slaves of unprincipled knaves ? Is it not time that we 
proclaim the warning of the ancient Romans ? Let us there¬ 
fore unite in saying, “ See that the Republic receives no 
harm.” The warning sound, however, will avail nothing 
unless we agree upon a plan of action; and action will avail 
nothing unless it be of such a nature as will tend to sweep 
the “ boss” system forever out of American politics. , 

Now the question is, how is this to be done? “Citizens’ 
parties,” “ farmers’ parties,” “ anti-partisan parties” or “anti¬ 
boss parties,” have been tried and in some few instances with 
complete success; but there is no cohesion in these parties, 
and none know this better than the “ bosses” themselves. 
These parties come like a flash and vanish out of sight, and 
the only inconvenience the bosses feel is at that particular 
election when the flash is flashing. At that time the bosses 
say that “luck is against them but they by no means des 
pair, for they well know that at the next election there will 
scarcely be a sign left of the farmers, citizens or independent 
parties, and that they will again rule as supreme “bosses.” 

During the rule of these “bosses” can any voter truthfully 
say that in depositing a vote in the ballot box, the vote 


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deposited is his choice ? Is it his choice ? Is it not the 
choice of the “boss?” Who that will but observe can fail to 
see that the “ boss” is behind the caucus, and that the 
caucus chooses delegates to district conventions, district 
conventions choose delegates to State conventions and State 
conventions choose delegates to the National conventions 
and these select candidates for President. 

Is it not the caucus, after all, that dictates to the voter 
for whom he shall vote ? Who else but the “bosses” are the 
motive power of this political machinery ? Thus you will 
observe that while the voter has choice of tickets , the “boss” 
has choice of candidates. Who is master? the voter? I say 
no; emphatically , no. It is the “boss;” and to all intents 
and purposes the voter might as well be disenfranchised. 

Let us be frank enough to admit this truth, that while 
the “ bosses” rule, the Republic is dead. For what more can 
be done to annihilate free government than to deny to its 
citizens the right to choose candidates? 

What may we expect from public officers who are 
nominally voted for by the citizens, but who in reality are 
appointed by the “bosses?” Can we expect that office 
holders who have been placed in office by the “ bosses” are 
the proper men to aid, develop free institutions ? Can we 
expect such men to be loyal to the traditions of a Repulican 
form of Government ? Have not these men conspired with 
the chief conspirator, the “boss”? Have not these office 
holders bargained and contracted with the “bosses” for the 
positions they now hold ? Was this loyalty to the Republic? 
Was it not damnable treason ? If it is not, then tell me what 
treason is. Can an act be more treasonable than one that 
strikes at the very foundation, the very life of our free 
representative government ? 


( 15 ) 


Deny it, you perjured office holders. Deny it, you 
thievish knaves, if you dare ! Deny it, you “ bosses ! ” 
Deny it, you vile hogs; you who feed fat on the life’s blood 
of American citizenship ; you destroyers of civil and politi¬ 
cal liberty. 

Deny it, oh fellow citizens ! Deny it 1 Can we deny it, 
and not do violeir-e to truth! Alas ! no, we cannot deny 
it; it is true, only too true. 

Even then the story is but half told, for, in addition to 
the thinly disguised political villiany of the “ bosses,” are 
their allies, backers and supporters, and these are the pow¬ 
erful corporations and their office-seeking adventurers. 

These kid gloved gentry want “sundry measures” and 
“ favorable ” (!) legislation; this requires sundry capable 
men; these men once selected must be elected. The inno¬ 
cent, lamb-like, patriotic corporationitos do not themselves 
wish to mingle in “the dirty pool,” so they give their orders 
to their henchmen, and their henchmen “fix things ” with 
the “bosses.” So skillfully is this managed that it is seldom 
that the “boss” even dreams that he is “steering” a cor¬ 
poration “gang” into office. 

The corporation henchman usually has his first and 
second choice of tools; these are placed on the prevailing 
party tickets, and thus do these corporations play “heads I 
win,” “tails you lose” game, and the country can go to the 
Devil. 

Kerosene oil, hogs, pigiron, land-grabbers, water grabbers, 
railroad companies, sugar-makers, coolie-drivers, bond-hold¬ 
ers, franchise-grabbers, and job “putters-up ”-ers, are the 
governors ; they and their henchmen have the “ power,” and 


( 16 ) 

the “glory,” and the “kingdomand the people—well, if 
they don’t like it, they have the ballot, you know. 

The “fixing things ” with the “boss” is only a prelim¬ 
inary step in this political comedy, for, after securing the 
sundry men to “run,” and after “fixing things” with the 
“bosses,” another step is necessary—campaign work must 
be done, and the districts must be canvassed; but who is to 
do it, the corporationites ? No, indeed, the very idea would 
make them smile. Shall it be the bosses'? Well, hardly, 
for, in addition to being illiterate and ignorant, their repu¬ 
tation smells too much of gin, dog-fights, gambling, the 
“ manly art,” and other things too numerous to mention. 
Well, who shall it be? Now mark you well. 

It will not be an ignoramus, nor a mysterious unknown, 
but it will be a man of learning and of education, whose 
entire mental capacities have been directed into one certain 
chinnel. He is an orator. Watch h s well turned phrases, 
his sallies of wit, his pleasing gestures, his imploring earn¬ 
estness, his genteel, pathetic and sympathetic appeals to 
those assembled “to guard well the sacred rights of civil 
liberty.” Of a sudden, however, the genteel and pleasing 
repose of his features change to a scowl of deep hate as he 
grates forth maladictions and denunciations on the platform, 
party, and traditions of the opposing party. Watch him 
well, he is in earnest—there is no denying that. The people 
are electrified, and give vent to their high wrought pitch of 
excitement by rending the air with cheers and yells, and, at 
the conclusion, three cheers and a tiger are given for the 
ticket and for the orator. Did we say this orator was 
learned and educated ? Yes, we did, but now we will say 
something more : this orator, in addition to being learned 



( 17 ) 

and educated, is a tool —yes, a still more villainous and 
and dangerous tool of scheming men than are the bosses 
and their henchmen all put together. 

Unmask this man and you will find him a bought come¬ 
dian, whose every word was carefully memorized, whose 
every gesture was studied before the mirror. Could they 
but speak, the very dollars in his pocket would cry out 
“ this man is a base traitor,” he has been bought to blind the 
people by his dangerous gift of oratory . 

There are scores of political prophets and pessimists who 
predict that the sand-lotters, the strikers, the communists, 
and the foreign rabble generally, will undermine our repub¬ 
lican form of government. I boldly assert, and that with 
out fear of contradiction, that the fundamental principle of 
free government is in greater danger of being submerged by 
the knavish and hypocritical “orator” than by the com¬ 
munist; for, if the communist but oversteps the law, he is 
in prison; and, if found guilty of crime, the hangman’s rope 
ends his career. But how is it with the “orator”? For his 
knavish skill of flattery and hypocrisy he is rewarded with 
gold and honor; and I predict now that if ever this repub¬ 
lic is to perish, the “orator” will be the assassin, and not the 
communist—the native-born, cultured knave will deal the 
death blow, and not the foreign boor. 

What, then, but a knowledge of this humiliating state of 
affairs is the secret of the silence on the part of the so- 
; called “friendly powers” of Europe. The monarchs, 
despots, and crafty diplomatists of Europe, have not read 
I indent and modern history in vain. They have learned by 
mart the manifold examples of ancient and modern repub- 
ics. They know that republics are generally formed by 



( 18 ) 

factions breaking loose from some other mode of govern- 
ment, generally despotic. They know that, on the organ¬ 
ization of this form of government, the leaders and patriots 
are placed in office, and that wise laws are enacted. They 
know that these republics, although at the start formed 
from an insignificant faction, in a short time become power¬ 
ful States. Instances are not wanting where they become 
the mightiest political power in the world. But they also 
know that when the republic becomes rich and powerful 
the parasites of republics, the “bosses,” appear, and they 
also know that when the parasitic “bosses” appear, the 
days of the republic are numbered. 

Fellow citizens, the parasites are here! They are sap¬ 
ping the life out of our great republic; and unless we exter¬ 
minate the political vermin, the “bosses,” then are the 
days of our republic numbered, and the end will soon be 
here. It will not come peacefully, nor harmlessly. Furious 
rage will rule supreme, and civil liberty will die the death 
of a dog; and the people who suffered “bosses” to rule shall 
be ruled by chains and stripes, and when that time shall 
have come, will anyone say that our affliction will be un¬ 
merited'? No, not one; for into our hands is consigned the 
mission to establish and perpetuate the sacred rights of civil 
and political freedom. Our national life should become a 
beacon light, guiding the people of the earth on the road to 
civil liberty. 

How can this be done 1 ? 

Before we decide how this can be done, let us determine 
the cause of this state of affairs and the conditions that go 
to make the existence of “bosses” possible. 

In the beginning of its national existence the original 




I 


( 1 ») 

founders of this republic were animated with a noble spirit 
of patriotism. An ardent devotion to the principles of free 
government was the motive power and incentive to such 
action on their part as would best further the political wel¬ 
fare of the republic. 

The hopes of the founders were fully realized, and a 
m'ghty republic was thereby created. 

No sooner was this brought about when the descendants 
of the original founders, who, when they became rich and pow¬ 
erful, believed that they were secure, and thus relaxed the 
efforts necessary for the maintenance of liberty, and kept 
aloof from performing even the common duties obligatory 
on every good citizen. The decay of patriotism and non¬ 
performance of the duties of citizenship, made it possible for 
the bringing about of the present state of affairs. This 
state was as natural a result in political affairs as is the 
usual result in the case of decay of animal or vegetable life. 

The law appears to be universal that inactivity brings 
decay, and decay brings parasites, and parasites left un¬ 
checked bring death. 

We may therefore conclude that this “boss” system 
was brought about through the indifference and neglect of 
the people to perform the proper functions of citizenship. 

Could we but bring about a state of affairs that would 
cause every citizen to attend to his political duty, we would 
most surely do away with the “ boss ” system. 

How can this be done 1 ? Shall we appeal to the patriot¬ 
ism of the people h 

This has been tried over and over again, but the results 
have hardly justified the means. Shall we organize into 


( 20 ) 

farmers’, citizens’ or independent associations ? The very 
division into small bodies will result only in dividing the 
strength of the better class of citizens, and thus prove an 
aid to the “ bossesbesides, these organizations are short¬ 
lived. 

I propose to submit for your consideration a method for 
obtaining the desired relief, but that method is a radical 
one, though all radical ideas are likely to be condemned be¬ 
fore being understood. I beg of you, therefore, to give me 
your attention, so that I may lay the plan before you under¬ 
standing^, which, when done, you may treat with such con¬ 
sideration as it may deserve. 

A short time ago we came to the conclusion that the 
“ boss ” system was brought about by reason of the indiffer¬ 
ence and neglect of the people generally to perform the 
proper functions of citizenship. 

Now, if a person neglects to pay his debts, is there not 
a law to compel him to pay 1 What if a citizen neglects to 
attend to jury duty, is there no law to compel him to attend ? 
If there are laws for these things, can there not be a law to 
compel the citizen to attend to the duties and obligations of 
citizenship 1 Is not this duty of equal importance to the 
welfare of the State, and to the perpetuity of our country ? 
Assuredly. 

Well, if the prosperity of our mode of government re¬ 
quires that all citizens attend to their political duties, and 
if we can only obtain this result by laws and penalties, 
what good citizen will or can object ? 

If other means, equally as effective, will accomplish the 
same results, we have a right to know those other means : 



( 21 ) 


until that time, this method must stand as the only means. 
Let us now continue further in the elaboration of the plan. 

Laws should be enacted that persons who are ineligible to 
become citizens shall not be permitted to reside in the United 
States, excepting only in very limited numbers, and then only 
when provided with conditional permits. That this would be 
a salutary law, no one will deny, for the strength of a republic 
consists in the numbers as well as the intelligence and pat¬ 
riotism of its citizens. And while it may be readily ad¬ 
mitted that the alien class may add to the material wealth 
and prosperity of our country, yet it must be evident to all 
that in a representative form of government like ours, aliens 
are a source of political weakness, and while material wealth 
and prosperity may appear to many to be the criterion re¬ 
sult of good government, yet, in reality, nothing is further 
from the real truth. Goldsmith says : 

“Ill fares the land, to hastening ends a prey, 

Where wealth accumulates, and men decay.” 

If we are to be guided by past experience from histori¬ 
cal data, we will invariably conclude that political pros¬ 
perity is to be preferred. Rome , when politically prosper¬ 
ous, was a free and progressive republic; but Rome, in the 
days of material prosperity, was the incarnation of tyranny. 

A further enactment should provide, that all those who 
are eligible should promptly make application for citizen 
ship, which, if they refuse so to do, they may then be classed 
as aliens, and be treated as such. 

Having now given my views on citizenship, I will now 
proceed with the plan in detail. 

Political wards should consist of 500 voters, and not to 
exceed that number. In addition to the Great Register now 


( 22 ) 


in use, a Ward Register is to be kept, and printed copies 
are to be furnished to voters of each ward residing therein. 
The United States Government, the State, county and ward 
shall furnish to each ward a printed circular setting forth, 
briefly, the duties and obligations of a voter to the United 
States, his State, his county and his ward ; also, salient 
features of the election laws. 

All political caucuses, conventions and elections are to 
be held in the Public School buildings of the various wards. 
When a man of family will attend to the political affairs of 
his ward, county, State or country in the house, and per¬ 
haps in the very room where his children are being taught, 
he is apt to be more sober, thoughtful and upright than if 
he were in the rear end or in the upper floor of a bar-room. 

Laws should be enacted to legally recognize and to gov¬ 
ern the caucus and the primary, for, at the present time, 
these institutions, although the most important, are yet run 
on the “ go-as-you-please ” plan. 

There should be laws enacted that shall make it a penal 
offense if any citizen remain away from the caucus meeting, 
for, above all of our political institutions, I recognize the 
caucus as one of the most important. How few there are 
that fully realize its power for good or evil. The caucus 
appears like the mudsill to a house—hidden under the dirt 
—but in reality it is the greatest power in our body politic. 
Take the caucus out of the hands of the “ bosses,” and the 
“ bosses ” are swept away. 

Now let me ask the voters who are assembled here, how 
many of you attend the caucus regularly ! What! None ? 
Well, how many of you have ever attended a caucus! So 
few! Well, you are no exception to the general rule. 


( 23 ) 


The political “boss” will allow us to have our “anti- 
boss” parties, “ farmer’s parties,” “ citizen’s parties,” or 
“independent parties”; but as long as he can secure the 
caucus he can beat us all. Trying to better the Govern¬ 
ment by factional parties, as long as the “ bosses” control 
the caucus, is like trying to quell a torrent with a tin dipper. 

Recognizing the great importance and bearing of the 
caucus in matters appertaining to the welfare of our govern¬ 
ment, I would therefore suggest a change of method of 
holding caucus meetings. In doing so I will first outline a 
description of an official body to be known as Elective 
Franchise Trustees. 

Every political ward shall be ordered by law to elect for 
one term from among voters residing therein, two who 
will be known as Ward-elective Franchise Trustees, for 
every hundred voters residing in the ward. A ward of 500 
voters will therefore be entitled to ten ward franchise trustees. 
Soon after election these ward franchise trustees elect from 
among their own number a President, and one out of every 
three who are to be known as “ County Franchise Trustees.” 
The County Franchise Trustees are to elect from among 
their own number three who are to be known as “ State 
Elective Franchise Trustees.” The State Franchise Trustees 
are to elect from among their own number three who are to 
be known as “United States Elective Franchise Trustees” 
The ward franchise trustees are to meet in the public school 
house of the ward in which they reside. The county mem¬ 
bers are to meet at the County Court-house. The State 
members in the State Capitol, and the United States mem¬ 
bers at the Capitol at Washington. 

Suitable compensations are to be paid to those of the 


( 24 ) 


franchise trustees who may be required to devote any time 
other than the ordinary duties of ward franchise trustees ; 
and a longer period of service than one term may be allotted 
to those serving as County, State or United States Franchise 
Trustee ; but ward franchise trustees shall serve only one 
term and are thereafter to be ineligible for that office. 
During their term of office, franchise trustees, shall not be 
permitted to cast a political vote, nor engage in any political 
campaign, nor make a political speech, nor are they to 
further the political interest of any partisan or party what¬ 
ever. 

No person is to be eligible for any political office who 
shall not have served a term as ward franchise trustee ; nor 
shall any one be chosen for County, State or United States 
franchise trustee who shall not have served a term as ward 
franchise trustee. Franchise Trustees, after election, shall 
take an oath to observe and carry out the election laws. 

The Ward Trustees shall have full police power and may 
when necessary, call upon the regular police force, or upon 
any citizen or citizens for aid. Refusal to render aid shall 
be a punishable offense. They shall furthermore be guard¬ 
ians of the election laws, and empowered with ample author¬ 
ity to execute enforcement of them. They shall have full 
charge of the caucus meetings, primary conventions, the 
polls and the ballot boxes. They will also have power to 
summons and to administer oaths. 

They may make arrests during caucus meetings, con¬ 
ventions and elections, of persons making any attempt at 
fraudulent voting, or for disturbing the peace at or near the 
voting precincts, or for intimidating voters, attempting to 
buy or sell any votes, or for any infringement on the elec- 


( 25 ) 


tion laws. They may, for just cause, and at their discre¬ 
tion, detain witnesses, and take cognizance of charges made 
by any voter residing in their ward against another voter 
who is a resident in the same ward for any infringement 
against the election laws. 

When in session for that purpose, the accused person or 
persons of a ward and witnesses are to be brought before 
the ward “elective franchise trustees” for a preliminary hear¬ 
ing. If the charge cannot lawfully be sustained the ac¬ 
cused is to be dismissed; if, on the contrary, the charge is 
well founded, the accused and witnesses are to appear be¬ 
fore the County, State or United States “Elective Franchise 
Trustees,” as the circumstances of the case may require, and 
a jury of twelve “Trustees,” together with a Superior Judge, 
if a ward, county or State case, and a jury of twelve Trus¬ 
tees, together with a United States Circuit Judge, shall try 
the case if it be within their jurisdiction; the State and 
United States to furnish prosecuting attorneys, and should 
the accused be unable to obtain counsel, the Court may ap¬ 
point a qualified person to plead in his behalf. 

“Franchise Trustees” are to be exempt from arrest or de¬ 
tention during the time they are engaged in the duties of 
their offices, or when going or coming from their place of 
meeting, except for felony or treason, and for violation of 
the election laws. Arrests of a Franchise Trustee for viola¬ 
tion of the election laws shall only be made by Franchise 
Trustees. A complaint of a citizen of a ward, charging a 
ward Franchise Trustee with neglect or violation of election 
laws, may be entered on the records of the County Fran¬ 
chise Trustees, and the accused may, if the charges are well 
founded, be called before that body for trial, and if found 


( 26 .) 


guilty, shall be punished according to law, and shall also 
become ineligible to hold any political office thereafter; nor 
is he to be eligible to any political appointment, and shall 
also be ineligible for appointment as deputy to any political 
position in any ward, county, State or in the United States. 

County Franchise Trustees, who may have neglected 
their duty, or violated the election laws, shall be tried by 
the State Franchise Trustees, and State offenders are to be 
tried by United States Franchise Trustees. Vacancies shall 
be filled in accordance with law upon that subject. 

Having now described the plan thus far, I shall try to 
give a practical illustration of a caucus meeting under this 
method. In accordance with law the Mayor of the town 
issues a printed notice, which is countersigned by the chair¬ 
man of the County ’‘Elective Franchise Trustees,” to the effect 
that a caucus meeting is to be held in a certain ward on a 
certain date, at the assembly rooms of the ward public school 
building, on the evening of the day, and at the hour men¬ 
tioned by the call the assembly is called to order by the 
President of the ward “Elective Franchise Trustees;” another 
of the Trustees acts as Secretary. The citizens assembled 
have printed copies of the Ward Register. The Chairman 
now orders a roll call, and as each person’s name is called 
the person walks up to the platform, facing the President 
and the people, and if no objection is made, he will retire to 
the opposite side of the room. Should there be any objec¬ 
tion he is escorted to a detention room by one of the Fran¬ 
chise Trustees, for the purpose of further investigation as to 
his citizenship and residence. If he be an intruder he will 
be put under arrest. If he is found entitled to the privilege 
he is readmitted to the assembly room. As each name is 


( 27 ) 

called and the person appears on the platform, the name is 
checked by the President, Secretary and the voters present. 
The names of absentees are left unchecked, and are to be 
arrested and prosecuted at some future time. Absentees 
are also to be ineligible for election to the office of Franchise 
Trustee; one year for first offence, three years for second 
offence, and five years for third offence; for the fourth 
offence he is to be disenfranchised. The President will then 
proceed to read the printed circular furnished by the United 
States, one from the State, another from the county, and 
the last from the ward on the duties of citizenship. 

The Chairman will read the report of Ward “Elective 
Franchise Trustees,” beginning with the ward, then county, 
State, and last the United States, offering resolutions of 
censure or praise on the administration of officials, and on 
the administration of the election laws, and of the county, 
State and U. S. “Elective Franchise Trustees” administration 
and a vote by ballot is taken and a record entered of the yeas 
and nays. The President will now announce that those 
who wish may propose partisan divisions to be placed on 
memorandum. Any person may now address the Chair and 
request that the Republican Party be placed on the memor¬ 
andum ; another may ask the same privilege for the Demo¬ 
cratic Party, another for a Citizen and another for the Pro¬ 
hibition Party, etc. No more requests being made, the 
Chairman says: “ Are there any other parties to be placed 
on memorandum ? if not, the list will be closed.” 

The list being closed, the Chairman will call upon one of 
the “Ward Franchise Trustees ’ to escort the party first upon 
the list to their committee room, and a trustee is to remain 
with this division during the time of the transaction of their 
work, and when completed, he is to escort them back to 


( 28 ) 


their seats. As soon as the partisan division is assembled, 
the Ward Franchise Trustee will call the meeting to order, 
and read to them the object of the meeting, including a 
summary of the law governing partisan caucus meetings, 
but he is to abstain from any remarks'that may be construed 
as having a partisan meaning. 

The first order of business of the partisan division is to 
be the election of temporary Chairman and Secretary, and 
when this is done the Ward Trustee will vacate his chair 
and turn it over to the temporary Chairman. The next 
order of business is the election of Ward Franchise Trus¬ 
tees. This they proceed to do by electing as many as there 
are hundreds present. If there are less than a hundred, 
they may send a messenger to the Ward Trustee President, 
and notify him that they wish to combine with another 
division so as to have sufficient to elect two trustees. 

The next order of business is the election of delegates 
for the primary. If they have less present than the re¬ 
quired number to elect they again notify the President that 
they wish to combine with another division. 

When the ward franchise trustees and delegates to the 
primary are elected, they adjourn the division partisan 
meeting and are escorted back to their seats in the general 
assembly room. After the division is seated the “ward fran¬ 
chise trustee” will report if the meeting was conducted in 
accordance with the election laws relating to the ward 
division partisan caucus meetings. If the report be un¬ 
favorable the reasons are recorded and the chair may decide 
that no report of election from that division will be re¬ 
ceived, or that the acts of voters will be investigated at 
some future time. If the report be favorable, the President 


( 29 ) 


will call upon the Temporary Chairman of the division for 
his report. The report is now read and the names of the 
trustees and delegates who are elected by the division are 
declared elected , and their names are placed on the records 
after having been announced by the President; when all 
the divisions have likewise reported the meeting is ad¬ 
journed. At the meeting in the general assembly room no 
remarks, speeches, or other business of any nature whatso¬ 
ever is to be permitted, excepting the order of business as 
laid down by the law, printed copies of which are to be dis¬ 
tributed to the voters. 

I shall now recapitulate the system outlined: 

1st.—The law to induce citizenship will tend to make 
of us a homogeneous nation in place of a heterogeneous 
mixture of diverse peoples. 

2d.—The non-admission of those who are ineligible to 
become citizens will strengthen us politically. 

3d.—The ward registers printed and distributed among 
the voters of a ward will tend to bind closer the voters of 
that ward, and materially lessen the chance for fraud. 

4th.—The law making it compulsory for every citizen in 
each ward to attend the caucus, will tend to obliterate 
party, race, religious and class distinctions, and we will be 
able to keep any dangerous political element before our eyes. 
The rich and the poor, the ignorant and the learned, the 
peaceable and the turbulent, will all meet here on a common 
level. 

5th.—The caucus, primaries and convention when gov¬ 
erned by law will be a surer protection against corruption 
than the method now in operation. 


6th.—Voters ascending the platform in caucus meeting, 
in response to their names, where they may be visible to all 
the voters of the ward, will be a safer guard against fraudu¬ 
lent intruders than the present method. 

a. 

7th.—The creation of the office of “Elective Franchise 
Trustee,” which is the very soul of this system, will tend, 
with the addition of several other provisions herein men¬ 
tioned, to entirely eradicate the “boss” system, for the 
position of Ward Franchise Trustee will be sought after by 
the best citizens. 

8th.—As ward caucuses are not all held the same eve¬ 
ning, the Trustees of wards not holding caucuses may be 
summoned to serve in those that do. 

A single ward of 500 voters will be entitled to ten Elective 
Franchise Trustees. A city of 25,000 inhabitants, ha ving say 
eight political wards of 500 voters each, will be entitled to 80 
Franchise Trustees; and California, containing say 200,000 
voters, will be entitled to 4000 Elective Franchise Trustees. 
The entire United States, which contain say ten million 
voters, will be entitled to 200,000 Elective Franchise Trus¬ 
tees. Thus there will be a body of men composed largely 
of the best elements of our country, who will be fully armed 
with sufficient authority, and with ample means at their 
command, to preserve the election laws in their integrity. 

All who may wish to aspire to political office, whether 
it be by election or appointment, or whether the office be 
for deputy poll tax collector or President of the United 
States, will be obliged to serve one term as Ward Franchise 
Trustee. Thus the office of trustee will be an honorable one, 
oven though the place be regarded as a stepping stone to a 
more lucrative office. 


( 31 ) 


Can not a trustee become a “ connubuiator V* a con- 
spirator ? a “ boss” man ?. a “ ring man ?” a time server ? In 
fact, cannot the entire 200,000 Elective Franchise Trustees, 
that you now propose to establish go into “ cahoots” business 
as it is termed by the “ bosses,” and become a new “ boss 
system” even if the present boss system is abolished ? 

The . ring men with whom I have spoken too, say yes. 
Well, I give them credit for an extensive range of experi¬ 
ence in political manipulations, but, at the same time, they 
are wrong in their prognostications this time and for these 
reasons: 

1st.—The trustees are elected but for one term , which 
may seldom be for more than a year, and at the utmost for 
two years. 

2d.—The office of “ Ward Elective Franchise Trustee” 
can only be held for one term , and no one is to be eligible 
for re-election to that office, and as the hundreds of thou¬ 
sands of wards throughout the United States hold the wards 
caucuses at different times, and as the Franchise Trustees 
can only be elected during a lawfully called caucus, the 
office will not be stationery enough to 'permit of solid combi¬ 
nations on a large scale. Besides every voter in a ward may 
impeach a Franchise Trustee for a proper cause at any time; 
and if found guilty of an offense against the election laws, 
will thereafter be ineligible to hold any political office. 
Therefore but very few will jeopardize their chances forever 
by wilfully disobeying the letter and spirit of the election 
laws, which if they do, they will be liable to penal punish¬ 
ment besides. 

As the chances for nomination of an ex-trustee to a 
political office will almost entirely depend upon his conduct 


( 32 ) 

as Ward Franchise Trustee, all holding that office will 
endeavor to make a good record; and thus the office will in 
a great measure become a theatre of 'probation Those that 
make the best records during the time they are Franchise 
Trustees will be most likely to be rewarded with the chiefest 
places; and he whose record is poor will receive no further 
promotion, and he whose political record is criminal will be 
disgraced and forever denied the right to become a candi¬ 
date for any political office. 

Yes, but will not scheming men try to get into office by 
making good records as Ward Franchise Trustees? and when 
once elected, are they not going to rule or ruin ? 

That is possible, but the “argus-eyed” trustees are care¬ 
fully watching the office holders ; for the trustees have com¬ 
mittees to overhaul accounts , and committees to ferret out 
combinations , and committees to unearth “jobs” and “rings,” 
and when an office-holder is discovered doing ought that 
would be against the laws or against the public good, he is 
brought to a speedy trial, and if found guilty is punished, 
and thus becomes ineligible for any office thereafter. 

Upon taking the office of Elective Franchise Trustee, it 
becomes incumbent on those elected to study the election 
laws thoroughly; and if the office is to be held on an aver¬ 
age for one year, it will give us 200,000 citizens in the 
United States who will be familiar with the election laws ; 
in five years there will be one million, and in thirty years 
there will be six million citizens of the United States who 
will have served in the capacity of Ward Franchise Trustees. 
The political knowledge and experience gained by these six 
million trustees during the term of service will be incom- 
comparably of greater value to the Republic than the 


( 33 ) 




meagre and often misguided notions and political ideas ob¬ 
tained by the people now from demagogues, stump orators, 
sophistical partisans, or unscrupulous knaves in search of 
places or selfish measures. 

Thus the establishment of the Elective Franchise Trus¬ 
tee department will give this Republic a standing force of 
200,000 citizens who, armed with law and weapon, will 
stand ready at the risk of life itself to preserve the integ¬ 
rity of the laws governing the mode of choosing representa¬ 
tives, and for the proper administration of the duties of 
representation. Such a standing force would, in my judg¬ 
ment be a more potent power for the preservation and 
perpetuation of our representative form of government in 
its integrity than would be our militia, or an army and navy 
of the most formidable kind. 

Such a standing force would add power and dignity to 
our republic and would tend to remove the blemish and 
stain of corruption caused by “bossism,” as now existing. 
It would remove chances for civil wars and soften factional 
and partisan animosities, and place this republic first on 
the list of nations who are governed the most wise, the most 
just, the most free. Our form of government will then 
become the ideal and pattern for the nations of the earth, 
and civil and political liberty will become so deeply rooted 
that no earthly power will be able to retard its progress, and 
when that time shall have come we may hopefully expect 
the peoples and nations of the earth will adopt our mode of 
government as the only kind to be tolerated. 

The reading of the printed circulars furnished by the 
General Government, the State, the County anu Ward, at 
every caucus held in every ward throughout the United 


( 34 ) 

States, instructing the citizens in the duties, obligations and 
privileges of voters, will be a reminder to those that have 
learned and will instruct those recently admitted to citizen¬ 
ship the essentials required to make good and faithful 
guardians of the republic. 

The report by the Elective Franchise Trustees made in 
every political ward in the United States of the conduct 
and administration of the Federal, State, Oouuty and Ward 
office holders, and the vote3 of censure or praise recorded, 
will be a far more potent power for good government than 
the present power of the press. This vote will become 
the guide of the press and of the people, and a vote of praise 
from every ward in the land will be the chief incentive of 
the great Federal office holders. The same potent influence 
will be the motive for good and efficient administration 
throughout the entire body politic. 

All this may be readily assented to, but the point of 
compulsion. How about that? By compelling a citizen to 
attend the caucus, as this plan requires, does it not destroy 
the very foundation of liberty ? 

In answering this question, much will depend upon the 
hind of liberty we mean. Do we mean liberty to disregard 
aud ignore the duties and obligations of citizenship ? If we 
do, then the sooner that hind of liberty is destroyed the 
better. Are the privileges of American Citizenship scat¬ 
tered broadcast free to every one just like so many advertis¬ 
ing circulars, and of no value excepting to call upon the 
United State Consul and seek the protection of this Govern¬ 
ment when in trouble in some foreign land? Is your 
business, your social assemblies, your leisure, your ease, of 
more importance than good government? Perhaps it is; 


( 35 ) 

but mark well, that such objectors should not live in a 
republic; they ought to live in a country where the despot 
does all the governing. 

This is a republic, and a republic can only exist by 
virtue of the exercise of the duties of citizenship. Neglect 
to do this will bring on the parasitic “ bosses,” which, if left 
unchecked, destroys the freedom of self-government. If 
you are willing to allow the destructive powers to do their 
work, you cannot blame those who are not, can you ? Thus, 
when we compel you to attend to your duty , we only exact 
a return for the privilege of citizenship granted you. If 
you do not wish to pay the price for that privilege, we 
shall not quarrel with you; you can emigrate to some other 
country where you will not be compelled to attend a caucus: 
say, for instance, Russia or Turkey. You will not be 
burdened with a caucus there; in fact they will not even 
permit you to talk about such things, and, if you insist, 
they might send you to Siberia, or some other disagreeable 
place. We insist and compel — not to destroy liberty, 
but in order to preserve and perpetuate it. Are we not 
compelled to observe the laws of personal obligations in 
matters of conduct and of business ? Why, then, shall not 
those be compelled to attend to the duties and obligations 
of citizenship, who would otherwise neglect this, the most 
important service to his State, to his Country ? 

Can any one, who has the interest of free government of 
this republic at heart, object? I think not. I am sure 
they will not; for when it is taken into consideration that 
every person favoring the adoption of this plan, by permit¬ 
ting himself to be compelled to attend a caucus, compels, 
at the same time, ten million voters in the United States to 


( 36 ) 

do likewise, who will then be the objector? Who that does 
not wish this republic to live ? Who that does not wish 
to destroy that great curse of a representative form of 
government, the “bosses?” If there be any, let them be 
exiled from this land, and they should not be permitted to 
return; they do not deserve the freedom they enjoy. 

But were we to admit that the plan is entirely practica¬ 
ble and will have the beneficial effects as predicted, how is 
it going to be adopted? 

We can readily understand that were a plan offered, 
favorable to, and favored by, the manipulators and “bosses,” 
ways and means would be found for its adoption ; but a plan 
that means death to “bosses,” is not likely to meet their 
favor. Thus to start out with, you have the whole political 
machinery in the country against this plan. Besides, there 
are the thousands of office holders throughout the United 
States, the majority of whom were placed in office by the 
“machine,” and who hope to be kept there by the “bosses.” 
Oan you expect these men to think favorably of helping de¬ 
stroy a power that gave them honors and fortune ? Yes, 
all this is true. No help maybe expected from the “ma¬ 
chine,” the “ bosses,” or office holders appointed by them; 
but we do not expect their aid, and would refuse it were it 
offered. 

This or any other efficient plan for the maintenance and 
perpetuation of civil liberty must be developed and brought 
to a successful issue by the millions of citizens who desire 
that it should be so; and when compared to these in num¬ 
bers, the “machine manipulators” and “bosses” are but a 
drop in the bucket. The secret of the success of the “bosses* 
is in their organization j but if there be an organization 


( 37 ) 


among those who desire good government, the “ bosses ” will 
be swept away like a spider’s cobweb. 

There should be organization, but it should extend 
throughout. A Farmer’s Union, a Workingmen’s Union, 
a Merchant’s Union, or a Citizen’s Union are after all but 
so many factions , impotent , inefficient and transitory . Let 
there be a union of all citizens who desire good govern¬ 
ment ; let the farmers, the mechanics and the merchants have 
their separate unions, but let them all unite on one platform 
and act in harmony, and they will become a power mightier 
than the “ machine mightier than the “ boss.” 

Brother Johnston, the Worthy Master of the State 
Grange, kindly invited me to lay this matter before you. 
That this subject is a proper one for the Grange may be in¬ 
ferred, for, in the “ Declaration of Purposes,” we find the 
following : “ Yet the principles we teach underlie all true 
politics, all true statesmanship, and if properly carried out 
will tend to purify the whole political atmosphere of our 
country. For we seek the greatest good to the greatest 
number.” * * * And again, “ It is right for every 

member to do all in his power, legitimately, to influence for 
good the action of any political party to which he belongs. 
It is his duty to do all he can in his own party to put down 
bribery, corruption and trickery; to see that none but com¬ 
petent, faithful and honest men, who will unflinchingly 
stand by our industrial interests, are nominated for posi¬ 
tions of trust.” 

Can we expect these things to be done for us by the 
“bosses'?” Ft is high time, therefore, that some efficient 
method be adopted that will give us permanent relief. 
With that end in view, I respectfully offer the plan pro- 


( 38 ) 


posed. That some plan should be adopted that shall effect¬ 
ually remedy the evils in our body politic no one will deny. 
For shall right, shall justice, shall freedom perish 1 

Let us therefore resolve to act, and that at once, to eradi¬ 
cate the evils now besetting our government. Will we per¬ 
mit the present state of affairs to continue until the whole 
body politic becomes incurable 1 ? Will we submit in slothful 
negligence, to be bound hand and foot, or have our liberties 
handed over to scheming devils and their satellites 1 

Let us arouse ourselves from this seeming stupor, and 
assert our right to the proud title of freemen. Let us hurl 
the destroyers from their high places, so that our republic 
may grow and thrive, like a great oak tree near the bank of 
a river, whose roots shall penetrate deep into the earth and 
under whose shade shall be sheltered many that were op¬ 
pressed by the heat of tyranny ; thus will our country truly 
become “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” 
Our republic will then become the ideal of the nations of 
the earth, hastening on the time when “swords will be beaten 
into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks, and war 
will be no more.” 

I realize fully the difficulties to be encountered before 
so radical a plan as the one herein outlined can be put into 
operation. 

To effect the change required, the constitution of the 
United States will have to be amended. The Supreme 
Courts of the United States, and of every State in the 
Union will find great difficulty in adjusting decisions to 
meet the requirments of the amendments. 

The international laws will have to be amended, and 
the jury and election laws changed. These difficulties, 


( 39 ) 


however, are small in proportion to the great difficulty of 
overcoming the obstacles and stumbling blocks that will be 
put in the road, obstructing the work of reform, by the 
“ bosses,” the “ring-men,” and the army of officeholders, who 
have been elected and are maintained in positions of honor 
and reward by the present “ boss ” rule. 

Notwithstanding, however, that the difficulties and ob¬ 
stacles will be great to overcome, the chances of success are 
encouraging; for who that will but observe, can fail to 
see that the people are chafing under the system of “ boss- 
isml” 

A change that will better , a change that will purify; a 
change that will strengthen the government of our country, 
and a change that will sweep away the obnoxious and crim¬ 
inal “boss” system from our body politic, will be hailed 
with joy by the people; and when this people will demand 
the change , the difficulties will melt away like wax before 
fire. 

Let there be a union of all the citizens of every shade of 
political opinion. Let them unite, and act fearlessly, and 
with determination, and victory will be ours. 

And when that victory is once gained, it will be second 
only in bene icent results to the war of the revolution, and 
the adoption of the “ Declaration of Independence,” and of 
the Constitution of the United States. 

Let there be an unanimity of action. Let the California 
State Grange ask the Co-operation of the National Grange, 
and let the Grange act in conjunction with the Federated 
Trades, the Knights of Labor and the Merchants. Let the 
pulpits throughout the land and the better class of news- 


( 40 ) 


papers proclaim our wishes. Let every honest man and 
citizen throughout the land be enrolled in the good cause, 
and victory will be for the people, for our country. 

Let us organize; let us act, and let our motto be Now 
or Never. 


Those who desire to co-operate in organizing associations 
for the purpose of advocating the plan herein proposed will 


Address 


D. LUBIN, 

Sacramento, California. 











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